Cloud Peak Energy hosts EPA Administrator Pruitt

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt visited the Cloud Peak Energy office in Broomfield, CO to discuss the EPA’s priorities and steps taken during the first six months of the administration and to hear how the end of the Obama administration’s war on coal has positively impacted coal jobs and outlook for the industry.

Administrator Pruitt’s remarks focused on his efforts to return the rule of law to the EPA, to bring ‘a degree of humility’ to governance, and to demonstrate that strong and effective environmental stewardship can be achieved without restricting economic growth or negating America’s energy advantage. As the Administrator said, “Our country is so rich in resources and so strongly committed to clean air, clean water, and a great environment, that we don’t have to make a choice. We can have energy-driven growth and strong environmental stewardship.” Nothing more strongly symbolises the changes that the Trump administration has instituted than the fact that the EPA Administrator came to talk to employees of one of the largest coal producers in the country.

Administrator Pruitt also emphasised his commitment to restore the EPA’s constructive engagement with all stakeholders and to reinstate the cooperative federalism with states that is imbedded in our nation’s environmental laws. He said, “Industry and states must be partners in our efforts to ensure strong environmental stewardship and we must enforce the law rather than attempt to influence energy markets. This agency will not be picking winners and losers.”

Cloud Peak Energy CEO Colin Marshall expressed his sincere thanks to Administrator Pruitt on behalf of the company’s 1300 employees for working with President Trump to end the war on coal. Marshall noted that it is a remarkable change from the previous administration to have the EPA Administrator visit a coal company and take the time to speak with our employees and answer their questions. He also shared with Administrator Pruitt his thoughts on how the coal industry can help the Administrator’s vision of domestic energy resources driving responsible economic growth and international influence. Mr. Marshall suggested that given the nation’s energy abundance, “we should burn abundant, low-cost coal in modern High Efficiency Low Emissions (HELE) ultra-super critical coal plants in the US to supply low-cost, reliable electricity to drive domestic economic growth. The US should simultaneously develop carbon capture technology for future deployment to meaningfully reduce CO2 emissions when that technology becomes commercially available. In turn, we should use domestic natural gas primarily for heating and to provide industrial/chemical feedstock to boost economic growth while exporting surplus natural gas and oil to improve the US balance of trade and drive global energy dominance.”